From Norman Maclean to Jim Harrison, the state's rivers and ranches have shaped a distinct literature. The history of Montana is written in its ranches, mines and reservations.

'A River Runs Through It' set Montana fly fishing into the American imagination.

What sets it apart

The University of Montana runs a renowned creative writing program. For those who know the region well, it is a point of quiet pride.

Independent bookstores remain fixtures of the state's towns.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern Rockies and the people drawn to them. It is a heritage still very much alive in the towns and gatherings of today's Montana.